Sources: Michigan Civil Service Commission, Michigan Civil Service Commission Compensation Plan, Sections A (Alphabetic List of Pay Ranges) and B (Numeric List of Pay Ranges); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Michigan state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective October 1, 2026. These are the ranges Michigan sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Equipment Operator-E Class EQUPOPRE · class description Grade 6 · A31-005 | $22.03 – $28.01 a hour $45,822 – $58,261 a year 10 steps
|
Grade 7 · A31-005 | $22.72 – $29.13 a hour $47,258 – $60,590 a year 10 steps
|
Grade E8 · A31-005 | $24.56 – $30.98 a hour $51,085 – $64,438 a year 10 steps
|
| Equipment Operator-A Class EQUPOPRA · class description Grade 9 · A31-011 | $26.93 – $34.62 a hour $56,014 – $72,010 a year 7 steps
|
Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions (hourly × 2,080). Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: Michigan Civil Service Commission, Michigan Civil Service Commission Compensation Plan, Sections A (Alphabetic List of Pay Ranges) and B (Numeric List of Pay Ranges). Data captured October 1, 2026.
Pay in Michigan, all employers Sourced
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (SOC 47-2073) in Michigan, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | MI |
|---|---|
| Workers | 9,500 |
| 10th percentile | $46,370 |
| Median | $62,690 |
| 90th percentile | $90,580 |
| National median, government employers | $52,750 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Michigan
Michigan CDL Air Brakes Knowledge TestMichigan version · free on Open Exam Prep- Michigan CDL General Knowledge TestMichigan version · free on Open Exam Prep
- CDL Air Brakes Knowledge TestPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Commercial Driver's License (CDL) General Knowledge ExamPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Heavy Equipment Operator (government) page.